Bingo counter selector and exhibiting machine



June 26, 1945. NErrZEL 2,379,030

BINGO COUNTER SELECTOR AND EXHIBITING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1943 Q 3Sheets-Sheet l iNVENTOR CHARLES J.NEITZEL ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a mH z N 3 7 H f m Z v mm M. $55. k m It K NEW. JA I. IL w 2 m 50 66 0 ,m mH z 1 I 4 N c Z '6 7 z i 5 4 Z 7 7H 2 w M a 53 a x u w 2: w.

C. J. NEITZEL Filed March 1, 1943 -2--- V w). {11.111114 m 2 4FEENEE--ifi.. W q fi m c 1 I I I I l I| 7 r036 N O wmu 8 0/ J MHHH 84 ZIMIWIL.

BINGO COUNTER SELECTOR AND EXHI BITING'MACHINE June 26, 1945.

ATTORNEYS June 26, 1945. c NElTZEL 1 2,379,030

BINGO COUNTER SELECTOR AND EXHIBITING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1943 3Sheets-Sheet 3 V I 5 f1 6 INVENTOR CHARLES J.NEITZEL ATTORNEYS PatentedJune 26, 1945 UNITED {STATES PATENT OFFICE .EDIGO COUNTER SELECTOR ANDEXHIBIT- ING MACHINE Charles J. Neitzel, Watcrtown, Wis., assignor ofone-third to John J. Bhend; Watertown, Wis. t

l Application Marchl, 1943, Serial No. 477,558 6 Claims. (01. 40 7s)This invention appertains to games and game apparatus and moreparticularly to a novel counter selector for usein the game of the typecommonly called bingo. ,v f

In games of the above character, it is cus tomary for ,one person toselect one counter at a time from a plurality of counters and to announcethe number of the counter selected to the assembled players. Theplayers themselves have no means of knowing whether the number announcedis actually correct corresponding to the number on the selected counter.

It is therefore one of the primary objects of my invention to provide amachine for automatically selecting counters one at a time from aplurality of counters and for exhibiting the selected counters one at atime to the assembled persons in a highly magnified condition, wherebyFigure 6 is a front elevational view of my complete machine, the viewbeing drawn on an extremelyreducedscale Figure 7 isa front elevationalview of one of the checks or counters.

the persons themselvescan see the numbers on the counters and therebyprevent fraud entering thegame.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a machinewhich will first 56- lect a counter from a plurality of counters, secondexhibit the counter to view in a magnified condition to the players andthird finally release the counter to a receptacle where the same can bereturned to the top of the machine, at the end of each game.

A still further objectof my invention is to provide novel means foroperating all of the mechanism in proper sequence from a single op--erating wheel- A still further important object of my invention is toprovide a machine of the above character, which will be durable andefficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture andone which can be placedupon the market at a reasonable cost.

. With these andother objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangment, and formations of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through my improved machine takenon'the line l-l of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure .2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure1 illustrating the mechanism employed for makin a printed record of thecounter selected.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Figureland on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of the counter shown'inFigure '7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view through one ofthe counters, the section being taken on theline 9-9 of Figure 8 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view of th record strip. v

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts through, the several views, theletter M generally indicates my counter selector and exhibitingmachine,and the same includes a cabinet I5 which can be formed from Wood ormolded from plastic material. Obviously the cabinet can take variousshapes and forms and be ornamented in difirentmanners so as to present apleasing and attractive appearance to the general public. For thepurposeo'f illustration, I

have shown the cabinet as including a front wall I6, side walls l'l andabottom wall l8. A top wall I9 can besecured'to the front wall l6 andthe sidewalls l1 and this top'wall is spaced a considerable distancebelow the upper edges of the front and side walls to form a topcompartment '20, fora purposai which will be later set forth. The backof the cabinet can be closed by a removable rear wall 2| and by removingsaid wall, access'can be had to the interior of the cabinet'to permitthe making of necessary repairs, adjustments, etc.

Rotatably mounted in the compartment on the upper face of the top wallI9 is the main operating Wheel 22. This wheel can be rotatably carriedbythe top wall in any preferred way and as shown, see Figure 5, the wheel22 is provided witha depending stud 23 which extends through a bearingopening 24 formed in said top wall I9. The lower end of the stud 24 canbe provided with a retaining collar 25 to hold the operating wheel 22 inplace. Extending entirely through the operating wheel are a plurality ofequi-distantly spaced hoppers 26 for receiving stacks of checks orcounters and these checks or counters 21 are piled indiscriminately inthe hoppers. Upon the turning of the wheel 22 the hoppers 26 ride one ata time past a discharge opening 28 formed in the upper wall l9. Thisdischarge opening 28 is normally closed by a swinging trap door 29 andby referring to Figure 1, it will be noted that the trap door 29, whenthe same is in its raised closed position, is spaced the thickness ofone counter from the upper edge of the top wall. Hence, when the gate isclosed one counter at a time will drop from a hopper into said opening28. "The gate is controlled by a novel mechanism from the wheel 22 aswill be later described. Attention is now directed to the constructionand formation of the checks or counters 21 themselves.

Each check or counter 21 is preferably formed from a flat plate whichcan be of a rectangular shape and the plate has cut out therefrom anidentifying number 30. Obviously each check is provided with a differentidentifying number. Where the game of bingo is being played the counterwill have cut therefrom the letters, B, I, N, G, and O, and under eachletter will appear a cut out number. The purpose of cutting out theidentifying number or indicia is to allow light to shine throughthecounters, for a purpose. which will also be later set forth. The rearface of the check has a raised sharp marginal printing rib 3| formedabout the identifying number or indicia, similar to a typewriter key andthis raised rib is used for printing the num her or indicia on a paperstrip 32 as will also be hereinafter more fully described.

In order to turn the operating wheel 22, so as to bring the hoppers 26past the opening 28, the wheel 22 can be provided with an upright handle33, but obviously any suitable device can be used for turning thiswheel.

Arranged below the top wall l9 slightly in advance of the opening 23 isa vertically disposed counter receiving chute 34. The upper end of thechute is provided with a wide flaring mouth 35 and when the trap door orgate 29 is lowered the same rides into the mouth so that the counter inthe opening 28 will be guided into said chute. The lower end of thechute terminates in a rearwardly directed arcuate guide portion 36 sothat when the counter ultimately reaches the end of the chute the samewill be guided into a receptacle 31 provided for that purpose. Thisreceotacle can be in the nature of a drawer slidably mounted inthe'cabinet and removable from the cabinet through an opening in therear wall 2|.

As a counter falls into the chute and rides down the chute. the same ismomentarily stopped and held in front of the paper strip 32 by a h ld ae 38. whi h i also operat d from the wheel 2" bv a m chanism which wilbe lat r described. After the indicia on the counter is ill print n thepaper strip, lw means to be de scribed. the ount r is rele sed by theate 38 and the counter continues its downward movement in the chute 34until the same is stopped by a swingin gate 39 in front of anilluminating means 40. The counter is exhibited by the illuminatingmeans and other parts to the public or the assembled players at thispoint. The gate 39 is also operated from the wheel 22 and when this gateswings out from the chute, the counter continues its downward movementin the chute until the same rides out of the chute into the receptacle31.

The mechanism for operating the upper-most gate or trap door 29 includesa plurality of radially extending operating pins 4| arranged at quarterson the periphery of the wheel 22. The trap door or gate itself ismounted for swinging movement on a hinge pin 42 and the gate is held ina raised position by a U shaped crank 43. The crank is mounted forrocking movement in bearings 44 carried by the under-face of the topwall l9 and one end of the U shaped crank is provided with an upstandingcrank arm 45 which extends through a slot 46 formed in the top wall [9.A contractile coil spring 41 is connected to the crank arm 45 and to thecabinet and normally holds the crank arm 45 against the rear wall of theslot 46 and the U shaped crank 43 in a horizontal position for holdingthe trap door or gate 29 in its raised position. When a pin 4! on thewheel 22 rides past the crank arm 45 the crank arm will be movedforwardly and the U shaped crank 43 will be rocked in its bearings whichwill allow the opening of the gate or trap door 29 and the falling of aselected counter from the opening 28 into the chute 34 to the positionshown in Figure 1 in front of the paper strip 32.

The printing mechanism includes the paper strip 32 and this strip can bewound off a spool 48 ro'tatably and removably supported in the cabinetby brackets 49 secured to one side wall ll of the cabinet. The strip isfed past the chute and between a pair of feed rollers 50 and 5|. Theserollers function to pull the paper strip oil of the spool and out of thecabinet l5 through a slot 52 formed. in one side wall I! of the cabinet.The roller 5| can be in the nature of an idle roller, while the roller50 constitutes the drive roller and this roller 50 is keyed or otherwise secured to an upright shaft 53 rotatably mounted in suitablebearings carried by the cabinet. The upper end of the shaft 53 has keyedor otherwise secured thereto a spur gear 54, which meshes with arelatively large spur gear 55 carried by a stub shaft 56. This stubshaft is rotatably supported in bearings carried by the top wall l9 andmeshes at certain times with sector gear teeth 51. These gear teeth 51are arranged in groups around the wheel 22 and hence the spur gear 55 isonly operated at certain predetermined intervals. The paper strip 32rides over a bed plate 58 which is arranged in rear of the chute 34 andthe chute is cut out or provided with an opening 59 in front of the bedplate and the paper strip. The upper and lower edges of the bed plateare curved inwardly to provide guide faces over which rides an inkedribbon 60 which is similar to a typewriter ribbon only of a wider order.This ribbon is wound off a lower ribbon spool BI and onto an upperribbon spool 62. These spools are detachably and rotatably carried by abracket 63 which is fastened to the bed plate 58. The bed plate itselfcan be fastened to the chute. The upper ribbon spool 62 is power drivenat certain times so as to advance the ribbon over the paper strip andhence the upper spool 62 has connected therewith a rotatable shaft 64.This shaft is mounted in suitable bearings and has keyed or otherwisefastened thereto a beveled gear 65.

This beveled gear meshes with a similar beveled gear 88' which isfastened to a vertical shaft 81. The shaft 81 is mounted in bearingscarried by the cabinet and extends through the upper wall I! and theupper end of the shaft has fastened thereto a spur gear 88 which mesheswith the spur gear 55. Thus the gear 68 and consequently the ribbonspool 62 is operated from. the wheel 22 through the medium of the sectorgears 51 and the spur gear 55.

A strike plunger 69 is slidably mounted in a bracket carried by thefront of the chute 34 in front of the paper strip and the inner end ofthe strike rod is provided'with a strike head H for engagement with acounter held in front of the paper strip and the opening 59 in thechute. The outerend of the strike plunger is provided with a bearinghead 12 and an expansion spring 13 is coiled about the strike plungerand. is disposed between the head 12 and the bracket 18 for normallyholding the strike head ll away from the counter. A bell crank 14 isrockably mounted at its angle on a bearing pin 15 which is carried by abracket 16 secured to the front wall 16 of the cabinet. The outer end ofthe lower arm of the bell crank has formed thereon a strike foot 11 forengagement with the bearing head 12 of the strike plunger and the outerend of the upper arm of the bell crank has pivotally connected thereto,by means of a pin and slot connection, a sliding operating rod 18. Thisrod is slidably carried by the top wall l9 and extends through said walland has its upper end provided with an operating head or base 19= whichis arranged in the path of radially extending cam arms 88; These camarms 88 extend radiallyfrom the wheel 22 and are arranged at quarters onthe wheel adjacent to the sector gears 51. When the wheel is turned andwhen (meet the cam arms 80 rides over the operating head or base 19 therod will be depressed and the bell crank 14 will be actuated. Thismovement of the bell crank 14 will operate the strike rod 69 andforcibly carry the strike head H thereof into engagement with thecounter in the chute and this counter will be carried forcibh againstthe inked ribbon 80 and against the paper strip 32 and the number orindicia on the counter will be imprinted on the paper strip. After a camarm rides past the operating rod 18 the spring 13 will return the strikerod 68, the bell crank 14 and the operating rod 18 to their normalposition.

Afterthe imprinting of the indicia on the counter which is disposed infront of the paper strip, this counter can then be released by the gate38 and this gate and its operating mechanism will now be described.

The gate 38 includes a rock shaft 8! having formed thereon or connectedthereto depending gate arms 82 and the terminals of these arms have inturn formed thereon inwardly directed fingers 83which are normallyadapted to pro- .iect through the chute and under the counter to supportthe counter in front of the paper strip. One end of the rock shaft isprovided with a crank arm 84 and operably connected to this crank arm isa depending elongated operating crank 85. This operating crank is inturn formed on one end of a crank shaft 86 which is rockably mounted inbearings 81 carried by the under-face of the top wall IS. The end of thecrank shaft 88 remote from the depending crank arm 85 has formed thereonan upwardly directed relatively short crank 88 which extends through aslot 89 formed in the top wall 18. When a pin 4! rides past the crank88, the crank 88 will be depressed which will rock the shaft 85 and .therocking of this shaft will in turn operate the gate 38, through themedium of the crank arms 85 and 84. This will swing the fingers 83 fromunder the counter and allow the counter to continue its movement downthe chute until stopped by the lower-most gate 39. A- spring 98 isprovided for normally holding the gate 38in a lowered position with thefingers 83 under the counter. i

As the counter leaves the printing point the same drops in front of theilluminating means 48 and is heldin position by the bottom gate '39. Theilluminating means includes a lamp casing 5| which is secured to thechute and this lamp casing 9! has-disposed therein an electric lamp 82.The casing 8| is disposed in rear of the counter chute 34 and the frontof the chute has connected therewith a flared sight tube 83 whichleadstoward the front of the casing. The cabinet l5, at this point, isprovided with an openingwhich is closed by a magnifying glass 34. Thechute itself, directlyin rear of the tube 93 and in front of the lampcasing, is provided with an opening 95. Consequently when a countercomes to rest on the gate 39 the same will be illuminated by the lamp 92and persons looking into the cabinet will see the counter in a highlymagnified condition and hence the indicia on the counter can be easilyread. Obviously the check or counter illuminating and magnifying meanscan be readily modified so that the check can be projected ontoa screenwhich can be in full view of the assembled persons.

As previously stated, the gate 39 is'controlled from the operating wheel22 and this gate is secured to a rock shaft 96 mounted in bearingscarried by the chute. One end of the rock shaft 96 has formed thereon acrank arrri 81 and this crank arm has operatively connected thereto anupwardly extending push rod 88. The upper end of the push rod, in turn,is operativelyconnected to one arm 99 of a rock shaft I08 mounted inbearings which are carried by the lower surface of the top wall I9 ofthe cabinet. Another arm Ill! of the rock shaft I08 extends throughaslot Hi2 formed in said top wall [9 and this arm 19! is arranged in thepath of the radial pins M on the operating wheel 22. Consequently; whena pin strikes the arm I l, this arm will be moved forwardly in thedirection of the arrow (see Figure 4) which will push down on the rod 98and the rod 98, in turn, will rock the shaft SBand move the gate 39 fromunder the counter and the counter will slide into the receptacle 3''.

It is to be noted that the cam arms 80 on the wheel 22 extend beyond theradial pin-s 4i and that the cam arms are so shaped as to ride past thevarious cranks 45, 88 and Hll without actuating the same.

In operation of my machine, the counters are stacked in the hoppers 26and the wheel '22 is turned by the handle l3. The first step in theoperation is the depositing of a single counter 21 in the opening 28 ofthe top wall IS on top of the trap door 29. As the wheel continues torotate a radial pin 4| will strike the crank arm and the check will bedeposited in the chute 34 and will come to rest in front of the printingmechanism. A cam arm 88 will now operate the head 19 on the push rod 18and the indicia on the check will be printed on the paper strip 32 andthis paper strip and its inked ribbon will be advanced in proper orderby the sector gears 51 and the inter-meshing gears 54, 55 and 68. A pin4| will now strike the arm IOI which will cause the operation of thegate 39 and permit a lower-most check or counter in front of the lamp 92to be released (if there should be a counter in front of said lamp). Thenext step is the operation of the arm 88 by a pin 4| and this will causethe operation of the gate 82 which will release the counter in front ofthe printing mechanism so that said counter will ride in front of thelamp casing. As the counters are printed, the printed numbers can bereadily seen by the operator of the machine.

Other refinements can be made, and if preferred, the top of the cabinetcan be provided with a second lamp casing I03 and a slide I04 bearingthe name of the game, such as Bingo, can be slid in front of the casingwhen a game has been finished so as to indicate to the players that thegame has terminated.

While I have particularly mentioned the game Bingo, it is to beunderstood that my apparatus can be used for similar types of gamesirrespective under what name the game is played.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or thescope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. In a game apparatus, a cabinet having a chute therein and a displayopening, an operating wheel, a hopper for receiving a plurality ofcounters mounted on said wheel and movable past the chute, means forselecting one counter at a time from the hopper and for depositing thecounter in the chute, means releasably holda chute below said opening, agate controlling said opening and the depositing of a counter in thechute, means for operating the gate from the wheel, means for displayingthe selected counter in the chute to the public, a second gate forholding the selected counter in the display position, and means forautomatically operating the second gate from the wheel. 7

3. In a game apparatus, a cabinet, having a horizontal wall providedwith a discharge opening, a counter receiving chute in said cabinetbelow said opening, a swinging gate controlling said opening and thedepositing of counters from said opening into the chute, said gate beingnormally spaced the thickness of a counter from the upper surface of thewall when the gate is in its closed position, an operating wheelrotatably mounted on the wall, a plurality of equi-distantly spacedcounter receiving hoppers on said wheel having their lower ends open,the hoppers being movable past said opening upon the turning of thewheel, means for opening the gate including a rock shaft and a crankextending through the wall, a plurality of radially extending pins onthe wheel for actuating the crank, and means for releasably holding acounter in the chute in a display position, said means being operablefrom said Wheel.

4. In a game apparatus, a cabinet, a horizontally disposed wall in saidcabinet having a counter receiving opening, a wheel rotatably mounted onsaid wall, a plurality of equi-distant-, ly spaced counter carryinghoppers on said wheel; having their lower ends open, said hoppers beingmovable past said opening upon operation of the wheel, a counterreceiving chute disposed below the opening, a movable gate controllingthe opening and the depositing of a. counter from the opening into thechute, means for operating the gate automatically from the wheel uponthe turning thereof, means for displaying the selected counter in saidchute to the public, and means operated from the wheel for automaticallyreleasing the selected counters in the chute after a predeterminedinterval of display.

5. In a game apparatus, a cabinet having a horizontal Wall thereinprovided with an opening, a vertically disposed counter receiving chuteleading from said opening, an operating wheel rotatably mounted in saidcabinet on said wall, a plurality of equidistantly spaced countercarrying hoppers mounted upon said wheel having their lower ends openand movable past the opening in the wall upon rotation of the wheel fordepositing a counter in said opening, a trap door controlling saidopening, means for operating the trap door from the wheel, a displaystation for the counters in the chute, releasable means for holding thecounters in the display station, and means operative from said wheel foractuating the releasable holding means in the display station.

6. In a game apparatus, a cabinet having a horizontal wall thereinprovided with an opening, a vertically disposed co'unter receiving chuteleading from said opening, an operating wheel rotatably mounted in saidcabinet on said wall, a plurality of equidistantly spaced countercarrying hoppers mounted upon said wheel having their lower ends openand movable past the opening in the wall upon rotation of the wheel fordepositing a counter therein, a trap door controlling said opening,means for operating the trap door from the wheel, a display station fora counter in the chute, releasable means for holding the counters in thedisplay station, and means operative from said wheel for actuating thereleasable holding means in the display station, said display stationincluding a lamp, lamp casing and a magnifying glass arranged on theopposite side of the display station from said lamp and lamp casing.

CHARLES J. NEITZEL.

